What Our Interns Have to Say...

Below are quips and quotes from some of our past (and one future) RMEC interns. 

Samuel Antoine (Sept 2011 - Present) My name is Sam Antoine and I graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After graduation I took a job in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. Although I enjoyed my work in climate research, after a year I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. I am inspired by my grandfather, Dr. Burton Lee, an oncologist, who always speaks of his career with great passion. Having grown up in Colorado, I decided to complete the medical school prerequisites at Fort Lewis College. I am looking forward to gaining insight into the field of medicine and medical research here at Spine Colorado and Durango Orthopedic.

Hannah Price (Oct 2010 - Present) Growing up in Pagosa Springs instilled in me a great love for the Rockies and an appreciation for all the little things smaller communities can offer, which led to my decision to attend Fort Lewis College. I am currently a junior majoring in General Biology with a minor in Chemistry and seeking entry into medical school. Throughout my undergraduate career I have been involved in several research opportunities but my placement in the REMC program has been the most influential in my decision to continue my education in the medical field. Not only have I been able to spend time in clinic and surgery but I have also been involved in the medical research process, all of which have enriched my education and strengthened my desire to be involved in excellent patient care. Not only has my position through the RMEC program given my an insight into what a career in medicine will involve but has also given me a number of mentors that wish only to help their interns succeed in what ever their career choice might be. I will continue to be a part of the RMEC program through the 2011 school year but will always look back on the program as an inspiration. I am confident that these experiences, coupled with my degree, will prepare me for a career in medicine.

Mike Ziemke (May 2010 – June 2011) I am currently a senior majoring in Biochemistry at Fort Lewis College. I chose Fort Lewis because of its strong sense of community and the quality of education it provides. Throughout my undergraduate career I have filled several internship/research positions; however, because of my strong interest in medicine my RMEC internship placement at Spine Colorado has been most influential to me. It has provided me with extensive hours of shadowing clinicians and of involvement in medical research. Through this process I have been exposed to how medical research is conducted properly and how quality patient care is provided. I will be applying to medical school this summer and will hopefully be beginning in the fall of 2012. My experiences throughout college and in particular at Spine Colorado have prepared me for a career in medicine…

Erin Raley (August 2010 – May 2011) I grew up in Telluride, Colorado, and my love for the Rocky Mountains took me to Montana State University in Bozeman where I earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees (Modern Languages and Media and Theatre Arts). Throughout my college career I lived and traveled extensively in Latin America and Central Asia where my passion for language and culture was cultivated. In 2009, I completed my EMT-Basic certification and volunteered for the local Telluride Fire Protection District. Through volunteer medical work and traveling in the backcountry with medical professionals I realized a strong desire to pursue medicine at a higher level. I enrolled at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where I am about to complete my pre-medical coursework. I have been working as a research intern at Spine Colorado since June 2010. My experience observing surgeries, helping with research projects, working closely with the research team, and shadowing doctors has proved to be an invaluable experience. The inspiration I found through my RMEC internship has inspired my decision to apply to medical school in June 2011.

Jessica Branson (January 2011 – present) My name is Jessica Branson and I am currently a senior at Fort Lewis College. I’m 21 years old and have lived in Durango for the last 18 years of hiking, skiing, and tubing down the river of our great town. I’ll be graduating soon with a degree in General Biology and will continue on to graduate school to seek a career in the medical field. For the past few months I have enjoyed working as an intern with Dr. Cooke, a local allergist, and shadowing doctors and PAs at Durango Orthopedic and Spine Colorado. These hours in clinic, research, and surgery have been incredibly influential in preparing me for a future in medicine. I have learned what the day to day routine looks like for the roles of everyone from the receptionist to nurse, PA, radiologist, and doctor. Most importantly I have observed the type of patient care each position provides. I have also learned which fields I could develop a passion for and which interest me less. I have discovered that while the surgical side of medicine is interesting, I am a best fit for the medical side of medicine with my intense fascination with immunology and neurology and can’t wait to absorb more information in similar fields.

Jaime Nelson (May 2011 – August 2011) I have lived in Colorado my whole life. I was born and raised in Durango, CO and am now currently a junior at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. My passion for the mountains and a great school are two things that have kept me in this gorgeous state. My major is Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine. I am trying to decide what direction I want to take when I graduate as I am debating on physical therapy or physician's assistant graduate school. Hopefully this internship will help steer me in one direction. This internship with RMEC is a fantastic opportunity that I am lucky to have! I have also followed a Durango Orthopedics doctor during surgery and in the medical office. That opened my eyes to what careers I might be interested in. Hopefully through this internship with shadowing, research and talking with doctors and PAs I will be able to learn a lot and be one step closer in deciding the path of my future.

Spencer Debauche (August 2010 – May 2011) Many factors have contributed to the individual I am today. One contribution that I will always acknowledge, for the formation of my character and my deep appreciation for each blessing in my life, is growing up on a ranch in southwest Nebraska. I was constantly faced with situations that most would shy away from; working long hours in the fields and with the livestock gave me an incredible sense of what I was capable of. Recognizing my potential early on—coupled with the support and morals provided by my parents—I was continuously generating goals and striving to achieve them. I very rarely need any sort of motivation to keep me moving forward as I am energetic, engaging, positive, resourceful, and commit to each of these with the utmost integrity. I moved to Colorado six years ago; nearly the last four years have been spent in Durango, CO. Although my life has changed significantly from that of the ranch, I still work just as hard as before, and I have yet to sway in my character. Between waiting tables and bartending at a local fine dining establishment, having an RMEC internship at Spine Colorado, doing handyman jobs intermittently, and doing research in the biochemistry laboratory on campus, I’m able to maintain a 3.8 GPA as fulltime biochemistry major at Fort Lewis College. I am currently in the process of studying for the MCAT and preparing to submit my medical school applications this summer. My current short-term goals include scoring well on my MCAT and getting interviews for acceptance to medical schools. My long term aspirations include having a family, and being part of a successful medical practice that spends time annually providing care to those suffering in less fortunate nations.

Teressa Carver (December 2009 – May 2010) Now that I’m applying for jobs and also in the process of applying to medical school and graduate programs, I really appreciate what a unique experience the internship was. Shadowing a broad spectrum of physicians, observing surgeries, participating in clinic, and performing data entry and research for papers, all added up to a very valuable opportunity to become familiar with many aspects of a medical practice. Having the experience of this internship has helped immensely in navigating my career path. I recently took the MCAT and am waiting for the results. In the meantime, I am looking for research positions for the summer. Katie (Patty), my internship supervisor, is still the first person I think to ask when I have questions about resumes, job applications, career options, etc. She always took the time to make sure I got the chance to do a little bit of everything, always had time to sit down and answer questions, and really allowed me to make the most of my time there.

Mira Emmanuel-Ogier (May 2008 – December 2008) I am currently working as a Research Operation Coordinator at the International Clinical Research Center (ICRC) within the University of Washington, Department of Global Health in Seattle. Our research focuses on HIV prevention with the objective to find effective treatment strategies to reduce HIV acquisition and transmission. Prior to this, I worked as a monitor with a Seattle based CRO on spine device trials. From the proper initialing and dating of case report forms to reviewing protocols, my career path has benefited from the foundational knowledge I gained while working with Dr. Youssef and Katie Patty.